How you can stop life-threatening bleeding, taught by trauma experts

In instances of mass casualties, such as mass shooting situations, most fatalities are caused by blood loss.

Which is why, in a nation with over 300 mass shootings this year alone, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland and hospitals like it are trying to train the general public on how to stop life-threatening bleeding.

“We need national resilience, to better prepare the public to save lives,” Anita Barksdale, a nurse and injury prevention specialist with St. Joseph Mercy Oakland said.

“If and when a situation happens, we all need to be able to react. From here on out, there are no bystanders. We all can do something in emergencies.”

The hospital is now offering free training on how to stop life-threatening bleeding to any all types of organizations, from churches, to businesses, to government agencies or community groups. The roughly hour-long training session covers how to apply pressure to a wound, how to pack a wound and how to use a tourniquet. To schedule a training, contact the hospital at 248-858-6690.

“We want this training to be as well known as CPR is today,” Barksdale said.

The following is information on how to control bleeding, presented by trauma experts to the Oakland University Police Department, at a recent training session:

Before you or anyone else attempts to assist someone with a bleeding wound, alert the proper authorities by calling 911. Never insert yourself into an active scene, because, as Barksdale puts it, you can’t assist others if you become a victim yourself.

Applying pressure

Arm and leg injuries are the most frequent cause of preventable death. According to Barksdale, applying pressure to a wound in the abdominal or chest area won’t help, especially if the injury is a gunshot wound, as the bleeding is most likely internal.

For all other cases, start by removing the clothing from the wounded area and cleaning out any pooled blood in the wound. If you see bone, glass, or other debris, do not attempt to remove it, as it may be blocking any further bleeding.

Use a clean cloth, such as a sweater, shirt, sock, jacket, or whatever is available, and hold it onto the wound with direct and steady pressure. Barksdale said in order for this method to work correctly, put as much strength as you can into holding that pressure.

Blood begins to clot after three or four minutes, but removing the pressure may cause the blood clot to burst. Keep pressure on the wound until first responders arrive.

Tourniquets

Improvised tourniquets are not just for the movies. But they’re difficult to make without training and practice, and in a situation like a mass shooting, applying direct pressure might make more sense depending on the individual. Barksdale said between the two, it’s better to go with what you know.

Place the tourniquet two to three inches above the wound, never on a joint such as the elbow or knee, making sure the strap is as flush to the skin or clothing as possible. Turn the handle two or three times to tighten. If after three turns the tourniquet is not tight enough to stop the bleeding, a second tourniquet is required.

Be sure to write the time the tourniquet was applied on the white label on the outer strap.

Tourniquets can be kept on for two hours before loss of a limb becomes a concern.

Do not remove or loosen the tourniquet once applied. Tourniquets are painful, sometimes more painful than the wound itself according to Barksdale, but paramedics will assist the victim in managing that pain once they arrive.

Packing wounds

Like with applying direct pressure, move the clothing aside and remove any excess blood from the wound. Locate the source of the most active bleeding and taking gauze, clean cloth or what’s on hand in an emergency, feed the cloth into the wound.

Fold the end of the cloth over your middle three fingers and insert into the wound, attempting to cover as much surface area as possible, applying pressure as well. If the gauze or cloth becomes soaked, do not remove it. Instead, add more cloth or gauze into the packed wound.